Wire-bound box lidding machine



L. H. PLATT ET AL WIRE BOUND BOX LIDDING MACHINE Aug. 28, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 17, 1950 Aug. 28, 1951 H. PLATT ET AL 2,565,987

WIRE BOUND Box LIDDING MACHINE Filed July 17, 195o e sheets-sheet 2 [ELA/v0 HPLATZJ?. I INVENTORS.

TraQA/Ey.

Aug. 2S, 1951 1 H.- PLATT ET AL 2,565,987

WIRE BOUND Box LIDDING MACHINE Filed July 17, 195o 6 Sheets-Sheet :3

ELA/v0 E PLA Tr, Je.

INVENTORS.

Aug 28, 1951 l.. H. PLATT ET AL' 2,565,987

WIRE BOUND BOX LIDDING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1950 6 SheetS--Sh'efu 4 [ELA/v0 Il. PLATT, g ro/N D. PLA T7;

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g INVENTORS.

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Aug. 28, 95 1 H. l|=| ATT ET AL WIRE BOUND Box LIDDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 17, 1950 N N Mm @J 75 .477; ELA/w H PLA TT, rife.

INVENTORS.

Aug. 28, 195i L. H. PLATT ET AL WIRE BOUND BOX LIDDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ELA/vo E PLA Tr, rof//v D. PLA TT, ELA/v0 EPL/17T, ze.

INVENToRs.

Filed July 17, 1950 TTae/VEY.

Patented Aug. 28, 1951 GFFICE WIRE-BOUND BOX LIDDING MACHINE Leland H. Platt, John D. Platt, and Leland H. Platt, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 17, 1950, Serial No. 174,294

vention concerns improved lidding machines of the general type disclosed in our copending applications Serial No. 752,854, filed June 5, 1947, on Wire Bound Box Lidder, now Patent No.

24 Claims. (Cl. 100--57 2,517,710, issued August 8, 1950, and application Serial No. 19,908, i'lled April 9, 1948, on Produce Box Lidder, now Patent No. 2,550,292, issued April 24, 1951.

Wire-bound boxes, as are now widely used for many packing purposes, have certain distinctive structural characteristics which ,introduce a number of lidding problems not met in other types of boxes. For one thing, the flexible side and end walls of these boxes are susceptible to considerable outward bulging upon pressural application of the cover to the box, which bulging if permitted prevents proper intertting of the cover with the box. Further, certain problems are presented by the manner in which the cover of a wire-bound box is fastened in closed condition, specifically by the interlocking of flexible cover carried and box carried projections, generally formed as interengageable wire loops.

The general object of the present invention isy to provide 9, machine adapted to perform a complete cover closing and fastening operation on ai# wire-bound box of the above character with max# imum operative efficiency, and preferably entirely automatically. As will appear, the machine acts upon a single actuation to brace the flexible h box walls against bulging, close the cover,

straighten and aline the box and cover carried wire loops to assure their interengagement, deform and interlock the wire loops and eject the closed box from the machine. Particularly oontemplated is an automatic machine in which the various cover closing, loop straightening and loop interengaging operations are so interrelated as to complete the fastening of a box in a minimum of time.v

K A more.- specific object of the invention is to provide improved means for effectively and eciently interlocking the cover fastening loops of a wire-bound box, and including improved mechanism both for properly alining the loops to interengage upon closing of the cover and for eifectively crimping the loops together after their interengagement. With reference rst to the alinement of the loop's, we attain a high degree of accuracy in such alinement by the provision of apparatus adapted to engage and straighten the 2 loops after the cover a condition near its closed condition and preferably just prior to the actual interengagement of the loops. With the cover in this nearly closed condition, the alining mechanism is operable to simultaneously and in a single operation straighten both the box carried and cover carried loops. To assure properl interengagement of the loops they are positively retained in this accurately alined relation as the cover is brought down to its completely closed condition. structurally, the alining mechanism may include one or more pairs of relatively movable jaws engageable upon closing with the opposite sides of both the cover carried and box carried loops to straighten them for interengagement as the' cover is subsequently closed. To facilitate the interengaging reception of`one loop within the other, the jaws may be specially designed so that one of the loops is closed to a narrower condition than the other.

We have found that the cover fastening loops of a wire bound box may be interlocked most rapidly and effectively by employing a number of individual crimping heads movable downwardly into engagement with the loops at the same time that the box is itself shifted horizontally. Further, this same shifting movement may beA employed to displace the box away from the loop alining .mechanism after an alining operation in preparation for its ultimate election from the machine. In this connection, certain rather spef movement of a pair of pressure elements which serve also to engage the opposite sides of the box and prevent their bulging as the cover is applied. A portion of the support on which the box is carried may itself be shifted with these plates. Further, we prefer to lower the central portion of the support during the nal cover applying operation to accommodate a central bulge in the bottom of the box.

Additional features of the `invention involve the preferred construction and relative position-f ing of the various crimping heads. Specifically, the heads may carry a pair of spaced rollers .at opposite sides of their projection engaging portions for engaging and rolling along the box surface as the projections are crimped. Also, when a series of spaced heads are employed for engaging as many sets of interlockable loops, the center heads of the series maybe elevated somewhat above the end heads to accommodate a central bulge in the cover as ultimately applied.'

has moved downwardly to As mentioned above and as disclosed in our prior applications, we prevent bulging of the flexible box side and end walls during application of the cover by employing specially formed pressure members engageable with these sides to resist such bulging. To coact with these pressure members, the present invention contemplates improved means for closing the cover in a manner assuring a most effective overall box handling operation. Specifically, we may provide guide means engageable with the box cover as the box moves into the machine to deflect the cover downwardly to a partially closed condition. The projection crimping heads may themselves complete the closing of crimping operation. As to the construction of the pressure members themselves, the invention contemplates an improved form of end pressure plate for engaging the transverse end walls of the box and especially characterized by a mounting for horizontal swinging movement between retracted Condition einek en active box engaging position. The box cover may be directed in to proper interfittins relation with the box as, itis closed by means of a pair of guides carried by these .end pressure membersihe above and other features and objects of thepresent invention will he better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accom partying drawings, in which:

Fig, l is a front View of a preferred form of box lidding machine embodying the invention;

Fig.. 2 is a horizontal section through the upper portion of the machine taken on line 2-2 of Fie.. i;

Fig. tus;

' Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on 3 is an enlarged rear View of the appara- 'lined-4 of Fig. 3 and drawn to the scale of v,

Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and showing especially the clutch mechanism for controlling the operation of the machine;

Fig, 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3 showing a portion of the mechanism for actuating the loop crimping heads or hammers;

Fig. 'I is a vertical section taken on line T-'l of Fie. 3:

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section talgen on lirie --B of Fig. 3 and 'showing the mechanism for actuating the loop alining jaws.

9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line @-9 ei Fie. 3;

.Fis- 10 ie en enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the pairs ofA loop straightening jaws;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the leen Straightening apparatus taken on line il-H of Fig. 10;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are fragmentary perspective views showing a pair of box and cover loops at various stages during the straightening and interloelsins operations;

,Fia l5 e fragmentary pien View snowing the manner in which the DDX Sides are retained against bulging by the various. pressure platee While the @over is beine closed and the 100155 interlocked;

Figs. i6, 17, 18 and 19 show four diierent pQSitions of one of the loop interlocking hammers at various stagesdurins its operation..

Fis., 2.9 .is anenlersed fragmentary perspective the box just prior to the view of a wedge member for retracting the stop by which the initial position of a lbox within the machine is determined;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 2 |-2I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary front view showing the manner in which a box lid is guided into its correct position with relation to the box walls.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary perspective View of a variational form of box cover closing guide; and

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary perspective view of a box cover alining plate carried by the loop alining mehannl- Referring i'lrst to Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrated box .lidding apparatus includes a forward box supporting structure l0 comprising a number of rollers Il onto which the wire-bound boxes l2 are successively fed from the right, as seen in these views, and from which the fastened boxes are delivered to the left. Conventional roller conveyers I3 and Ui et the opposite ends ef the apparatus may serve to carry the box to and from the machine. As a box moves onto the supporting structure l0, its cover l5 is engaged and partiallyclosed yby the overlying guide rod i6.. The box is stopped at a predetermined operative position on the supporting apparatus by a stop l5 projecting upwardly in the path of the boxvand adapted for automatic retraction downwardly duringthe subsequent operation of the machine. Upon arrival at the desired position on the box supporting structure, the box is tightly clamped at its opposite sides by outer and inner pressure members I6 and I1, and at its opposite ends by pressure members I8 and I9. The box and lid carried wire loops are then alined by actuation of the wire straightening apparatus generally indicated at 20, after which the crimping heads or hammers 2i are moved downwardly to completely close the lid edge against the box. At this point, the inner 4pressure member Il is actuated outwardly to shift the box away from the straightening mechanism, and during that shifting movement the heads 2l engage and interlock the wire loops. The inner and end pressure members are then released and the box is ejected onto roller conveyor M in fastened condition.

The working parts of the machine may be carried by any suitable frame structure, here shown typically to comprise a base 2li, a pair oi vertically extending end columns 25, a pair of angular rear braces 26 extending between the base and the two columns 25 respectively, and a forward table structure iii over which the boxes move (see Fig. e). The major portion of the machine may be covered by asuitablc sheet metal slgin or housing 2B, as shown.

At the opposite ends of box supporting structure I0, we provide a pair of powered rollers 29 which are continuously driven by a motor M and serve to advance the boxes onto and oi of the central box supporting structure. These rollers are carried by a pair of spaced elongated shafts 30 rotatably mounted by bearings 3l and 32 and interconnected for rotation together by chain 34 near the rear of the machine. The` drive from rnotor M is transmitted through a belt .35 engaging a pulley 35 carried by one of the shafts.

The power for eecting all of the operations of the machine except the box movement to and from the machine is transmitted from motor M through a speed reducing unit 25 and a main cam shaftZZ. For this purpose, the input shaft 31 o f the speed reducing unit carries a pulley Wheel Si! driven by the motor through belt 39 l*- This wheel 3B is at times free running on shaft 31 but is adapted to be rotatively interlocked with the shaft by axial movement of a conventionally illustrated clutch element 40 (see Fig. 5). When clutch element 40 is engaged with wheel 38, the output shaft 4| of the speed reducing unit is ypower driven, and in turn drives the main cam shaft 22 through chain and sprocket drive 42 (see Figs. 3 and 4). The cam shaft is rotatively mounted to the end columns 25 of the frame by a pair of bearings 43, and carries a number of cams CI, C2, C3, C4 and C5 which serve to lactuate the various working parts of the machine in proper sequence.

Operation of clutch element 40 is controlled by a foot pedal 44 whose depression by an operator engages the clutch to energize the cam shaft for one complete revolution. Specifically, pedal 44 is connected by a rearwardly extending arm 45 to a clutch actuating shaft 46 mounted in bearings 41 at the rear of the machine. 'Shaft 46 carries an upstanding armor lug 48 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to a forwardly extending link 49. This link pivotally connects with a horizontal lever 50 mounted at one end 5| to the frame and pivotally connected at its opposite end 5| to a vertically extending swinging frame structure 52. This clutch actuating frame may comprise a pair of parallel arms `53 interconnected and mounted for pivotal movement at their upper ends 54 and rotatively carrying clutch element 40 between their lower ends by an annular yoke 55. As will be understood, depression of pedal 44 and consequent rotation of' shaft 45 swings arm 48 forwardly and through link 49 and lever 50 swings frame 52 forwardly to engage the clutch and start the rotation of the cam shaft. The swinging frame '52 is normally urged rearwardly in a clutch disengaging direction by spring 56 connected at one end to lever 50 and at the opposite end to post 51 extending upwardly from the base of the machine. 4 A rotatable roller 58 is carried between arms 53 of the swinging clutch actuating frame 52 at a location between its point of connection 5| with actuating lever 5U and its upper mounting end 54. Cam Cl carried by the cam shaft 22 opposite this roller, has a circular outer surface containing a recess 59 within which roller 58 is Areceived when the clutch is disengaged. When thefoot pedal is depressed to engage the clutch, cam shaft 22 commences to rotate and turn cam CI to a position in which roller 58 is no longer` opposite recess 59. The outer circular surface of cam CI then retains roller 58 and frame -52 in their actuated clutch engaging positions until the ycompletion of one revolution of the cam shaft. When the cam shaft has made one complete revolution, recess 59 returns to its initial position opposite roller 58 to permit disengagement of the clutch under the influence of spring 56 and to thus stop the operation of the machine until the pedal is again depressed. y

To prevent the admission of boxes to the machine while it is operating and to` prevent the operation of the machine while a box is entering or leaving, we provide a pair of .elongated box entrance and exit feelers 60 and 6| pivotally mounted at 62' to the frame of the machine and normally projecting into the box path. A' pair of elongated rods 64 and 65 form together a connection between the two feelers 69 and 6| interconnecting them for swinging movement together between their forwardly projecting Fig. 2 positions and retracted positions at the side of the box path. Specifically, rods |54 and 65 are pivotally connected at their outer ends 66 and 51 to the angular inner portions 53 of the two feelers, and are pivotally connected together and to a horizontal control disk 58 at their inner ends 69. Disk 68 is mounted to the frame at 13 for rotation about a vertical axis. The foot pedal operated shaft 45 rigidly carries an upstanding arm 1|! (see Figs. 2 and 5) having a roller 1| at its upper end receivable within recess or notch 12 in disk 58 during operation of the machine. When pedal 44 is actuated to engage the clutch and set the machine in operation, arm 10 is swung forwardly by rotation of shaft 46. The resulting movement of roller 1| into 12 prevents rotation of disk 68 and thus locks feelers 5!! and 5| in their outwardly projecting positions to prevent the admission of a second box to the machine while a r'st box is being fastened. When the cycle of operations on one box is completed, arm 1l! swings rearwardly to release the disk 68 for rotation and thus permit the closed box to leave past feeler 5l and the next successive box to enter past feeler 5B. Spring 14, resisting rex traction of the feelers, may be sufficiently strong to prevent the deflection of feeler 5B by an entering box alone while yielding to the force exerted by both an entering and a leaving box, so that the admission of boxes is controlled entirely auton matically. While a box is entering or leaving the machine, feelers 5l! and 5| are deflected by that box to a position rotating disk |53 from its Fig. 2 position to thus prevent actuation of the clutch. engaging mechanism. In this manner, we prevent darnage to both the machine and box such as might result from accidental operation of the machine with the box improperly positioned.

As a box I2 is moved into lposition from the right as seen in Fig. l, its cover 15 is deflected downwardly by the elongated guide rod 16 to a condition in which the loop straightening and interlocking mechanisms are able to function. This rod extends in the direction of box travel and includes an inclined entrance end 16d by which the box cover is wedged downwardly as it enters the machine and a main horizontal portion 15b extending over the box supporting structure IB. The cover closing rod may be carried by a pair of vertical arms 11 connected to a'pair of brackets 18 projecting outwardly from the frame above the box.

Box stop l5 (Figs. l and 2) is the upwardly extending end portion of an elongated lever arm -19 which extends in the direction of the box travel beneath the box supporting rollers. This lever is mounted at 85 for pivotal movement between a condition in which stop i5 projects upwardly into the box path and the Fig. 1 condition in which the stop is retracted downwardly. At the entrance end of the machine, lever 1S has an upstanding portion carrying an inclined plate 8| engageable by an entering box to pivot the lever in a direction raising stop I5. Thus, each box upon entering the apparatus automatically actuates the stop to a position limiting the box movement at the desired fastening position. The mounting at is of a type offering frictional resistance to any unintended actuation of lever 19, and thus retains the stop in elevated po sition until its later mechanical retraction.

' The box supporting structure I comprises a series of transverse rollers rotatably carried at their outer ends by a rod S2 and at their inner ends by an elongated member 83. Rod 82 and member 83 are rigidly interconnected by a pair as a result to urgeroller |26 against cam C4. As will be understood, rotation of cam C4 effects downward movement of l-ever |24 and rod |28 which in turn rotates pinion |3| and displaces racks |32 and |33 in opposite directions. Such rack movement is transmitted to the jaws and ||2 which are thus moved together to straighten and aline the box and cover carried loops from their initial condition, as represented by Fig. 12, to the condition of Fig. 13. Y

The flexible end walls 2|2 of a conventional wire-bound box are reinforced at their side and bottom edges by outwardly projecting relatively rigid cleats 2id, two of which serve as upstanding corner posts 2 |4a of the box at opposite ends of its loop carrying wall (see Fig. 15). While these corner posts are ordinarily retained in their proper upright conditions by their own rigidity and by engagement of end plates I8 and |9 with the main flexible portions of the end walls, we have sometimes found it necessary to independently position and retain the corner posts during the cover closing operation in order to assure accurate intertting of the cover and box and of their wire loops. For this purpose, we prefer to provide means carried by the loop straightening mechanism and operable upon its actuation to engage and position the corner posts. Specifically, upper bar ||3 of the loop straightening mechanism carries at one end a forwardly projecting vertical plate 2 i3 (see Fig. 10) adapted to engage a corresponding one of the corner posts and displace it upon jaw closing actuation of the straightener. The upper portion of this plate is disposed angularly to form a guide for engaging and guiding the cover as it is closed. Similarly, the lower bar ||6 of the loop straightener carries at the opposite end of the machine a plate 2|5 (see Fig. 24) serving to straighten the opposite corner post of the box .and having an angular portion 2|6 for guiding the corresponding end of the cover.

Each of the crimping heads 2| has a vertically extending stem portion |36 and a lower transverse portion |35a carrying a pair of rollers |31 at its opposite ends. After the box has been shifted inwardly to its fastening position, these heads 2| are actuated downwardly from the position of Fig. 16 to the position of Fig. 1'7 to displace the box cover 'l5 downwardly between the positions of those two figures. Each of the cover carried loops ||l is by this downward movement located between the upper wall portions of one of the pairs of loop straightening jaws. With the crimping heads in the position of Fig. 17, the straightening jaws areV actuated in the manner previously described to straighten and aline the various sets of loops. While the jaws are held in their closed ali'ning conditions, the heads 2| are further lowered to the position of Fig. 18 to close the lid and move the cover carried loops downwardly about the box carried loops. At this point, the box is shifted outwardly away from the straightening mechanism so that the upwardly projecting loops |59 are engaged by the heads and bent away from the box in an interlocking direction. Finally, heads 2| are further lowered at the side of the box to the condi- .tion of Fig. 19 to complete the interlocking of the loops. As seen best in Fig. l, the central crimping heads are elevated slightly above the end heads to accommodate a central bulge in the lid.

in Figs. 3 and 6. The movement of this cam is followed by a lever |38 pivotally mounted at |39 to shaft |25 and extending forwardly to pivotally' connect at |40 with the lower end of a vertically extending rod |4|.` Lever |38 carries a roller |42 engaging the cam C2 to follow its movement. The upper end of rod |4| carries a collar |43 rotatably received about an upper horizontal shaft |44 which extends parallel to the path of the box through the machine. The opposite ends of shaft |44 are connected to a pair of vertically swinging parallel arms |45, each of which is mounted at its rear end |46 on a bracket |47 projecting rearwardly from one of the co1- umns 25 and extends forwardly to a location in front of that column. Thevarms |45 are thus free for vertical swinging movement of lever |38 and rod |4| as effected by cam C2. A bar |48 of square section extends between the swinging arms |45 at a location forwardly of shaft |44 and is mounted for rotation relative to these arms. The crimping heads are attached to this square section rod by individual mounting brackets |49 having tubular portions |50 received about the bar and having vertically extending openings 250 (see Fig. 16) within which stems |36 of the hammers are adjustably received. The heads may thus be adjusted both horizontally and vertically to accommodate boxes of different sizes.

During their nal downward movement, the crimping heads are swung outwardly in the direction of ,b ox movement as well as downwardly to follow the shifting movement of the box in a manner assuring complete interlocking of the loops. This outwardswinging movement is attained by mounting about one end of shaft |44 a sleeve 244 carrying a downwardly extending lever arm |5| and an upwardly extending lever arm |52 whose positions determine the angularity of the crimping heads. The depending arm |5| carries at its lower end a roller |53 received within and guided along a cam slot |54 formed in a plate |55 which extends across the inner side of the adjacent column 25. This cam slot extends vertically along' most of its extent but curves forwardly at its lower end 255. Upwardly extending lever arm |52 ispivotally connected by link |51 to an arm |56 carrying a lower horizontal tubular portion of square cross section received about shaft |48 and controlling its angular position. As shaft |44 and swinging arm |45 are moved downwardly by cam C2 to actuate the crimping heads, roller |53 rst follows the vertical portion of slot |54 to maintain the heads in substantially `vertical positions. However, as the heads near the lower end of their travel, roller |53 follows theV curved portion of slot |54 to swing the heads forwardly to the position of Fig. 19.

The'inner' pressure member I1 comprises an elongated horizontally extending channel |58 which may carry along its upper surface an angle iron |59 forming with the channel a forward box engaging surface of considerable extent. The channel is mounted for movement transversely of the box path by attachment to a pair of rearwardly Vextending rods |60 each guided for axial movement by passage through a pair of spaced ears |6| of a U-shaped mounting bracket |62 carried by the machine frame. Each of the rods |60 carries a collar. |63 against which a spring |64 bears to normallyurge the pressure member i7 rearwardly to its Fig. 2 position. Member is adapted for. powered movement acercar li l outwardly under the iniiuence of camC' to shift'- the box from its inner loop alining and interengaging position. 'The shifting force is transmitted from the cam to member I1 by a lever assembly |65 (see Figs. 3 and 9) which comprises a horizontal shaft portion '|66 pivotally mounted to the frame and carrying a depending arm |61 whose roller |68 follows the cam movement and an Yupwardly extending arm |69 connected by link to the pressure member.

To supplement the action of powered rollers 29 in ejectinga box` after va fastening operation, we provide an auxiliary 'ejectingdevlce |1I adapted to be conditioned for operation by the shifting movemento the outer pressure plate assembly relative to the frame of the machine. This device includes a lever |12 pivotally connected at |13 to the one ofthe upstanding members 85 nearest the entrance end of the machine. This lever carries at its lower end an inwardly projecting element |14 adapted 'to engage the rear wall of the box and to eject the box from the machine upon 'clocke'w-ise pivotal movement ofthe lever' asseen .in Fig. 1. r'Ehe upper 'end of lever |12 is connected by a universal connection |15 to the upper 'end V'oi an actuating rod |16 which extends downwardly through an opening in a bracke'tI11 carrie'dloy the stationary frame. Beneath bracket |11, rod |16 has an enlargement |18 which will not lpass through the opening in the bracket.' Consequently, 'as' member 85 is shifted inwardly to move the box to fastening position, enlargement |18 engages the underside of bracketY |11 to limit the upward Amovement of the rod 'and Aas a result 'to eiect counter clock-wise rotationof lever |12; This rotation of the lever swings element |14 rearwardly to a position of engagement with the rear wall of the box. When member 85 is subsequently shifted outwardly, reverse pivotal movement of the lever |12 is preventcdcby -engagement of elementA |14 with the rear of'the'box, which is itself retained against ejecting movement by engagement with feeler 6I. Consequently, rod |16 moves downwardly relative 'to bracket |11 and against the tendency of spring |19 `in a manner storing ejecting f energy in the spring. Upon release'o the boxfor ejection, spring |19 displaces rod |16 upwardly to rotate 4lever |12 in a direction commencing `the electing movement of the box. In operation, 'boxes are successively fed to th machine rfrom conveyor I3 and are delivered 'in lfastened condition 'to'c'onvey'or 4 along which they may .pass to a loading platform, warehouse or any suitable distribution or storage location. Movement of the boxes onto and oii of supporting structure ||)'is;eiectedy primarily by rollers 29 which as-previously brought out rotate constantly. As a box enters the machine, its cover 15 engages `overhead rod 16 by which it is pressed downwardly to4 a condition in which the loop straightening and fastening mechanisms are able to function. Also, as the box enters, it engages and depres'ses :plate 8| to pivot lever 19 and elevate stop I5 into the Vbox path. Upon arrival at a predetermined position on supporting structure l0, the box engages stop I5 and is retained against l.furtheradvancing movement, at

which point the operator `presses foot pedal 44 to engage the clutch 39, -55 through linkage VLili, 49, 50 and 52 and commence a cycle of operation. Engagement of the clutch energizes the speed reducing unit 23 to rotate the main cam shaft 22 through one complete 4revolution after which CI permits automatic Ydisengagement of the clutch. Clutch engaging rotation of shaft-46' swings arm 1I) forwardly to move its upper roller 1i into notch 12 of disk 68 to prevent theadmission of a box to the machine while it is operating.

As the cam shaft l22 rotates through one complete revolution, the various cams C2, C3, C4 and C5 actuate their associated mechanisms in proper sequence to effect a complete lid'ding operation. First, cam C3 swings its following lever 89 rearwardly to shift the box supporting structure ID and the outer pressure plate I6v rearwardly and thus clamp the box between plate I6 and member l1 to effectively retain its opposite sides against bulging. This inward movement of the box causes the box carried loop |69 to engage bar I I6 of the alining mechanism and be straightened to an upstanding condition. At the same time, the end pressure plates I8 and I9 are swung inwardly by reason of their connection through linksl iilI with rods 86 of the box supporting structure to brace the transverse central portions of the box ends near their upper edgesV against bulging. Such movement of the end pressure plates i8 and I9 intoactive position also'moves the associated guides I G3 into position for directing the box cover'downwardly in proper relation to the box.

When the top edge portions of all four sides of the box are thus retained against bulgl-ngja iirst increased diameter portion |86 of cam C2 moves into engagement with its Vfollowing roller to swing lever |38, rod |49 and upper levers |45 downwardly in a manner actuating crimping heads 2| to their Fig. 1'1 positions in which the loop alining apparatus is able to function- While the portionl of cam C2 retains the crimping heads in the Fig. V1'? position,-cain C4 comesin-to play to actuate lever |24, rod |28 and-arm |36 downwardly to rotate pinion ISI and by such rotation displace r'acks |32 and |33 in opposite 'directions. This rack movement effects corresponding relative longitudinal sliding movement between the two bars I3 and Il to move the 'various pairs of straightening jaws IiI and ||2 in closing directions. As the jaws close, their upper Wall portions l I1 engage and straighten the cover carried loops |Iil, and the inwardly offsetangu'lar surfaces I8 engage and` straighten the box 'carried loops |09.

While cam C4 retains-the alining jaws in their closed condition to 'retain proper alinementV of the loops, a second cam surface I8Iof c'am"C2 engages roller |42 to further lower the crimping heads to the condition of Fig. 18 to 'com- -pletely close the cover 15. After such 'closing movement of the cover has interen'gaged the box and-cover 'carried loops, cam CII releases I'its lever |24 to permit separating movement of the various set of loop straightening jaws vunder Athe iniiuence of spring |35. At this point, cam'C5 ac'- tuates 'lever assembly |65 to move the-inner pres- J sure member I1 outwardly in a 'mannerV shifting the box away` from the wire straightening Vmechanism. Cam C3 is formed to move the outer pressure plate I6 outwardly in Correspondence with this shifting movement of the inner pressure member to assure retention of 'the opposite box sides 'against bulging until the loops are completely interlocked. As the box is Vshifted outwardly by the inner pressure member, a nal increased diameter portion I82` of-'ca'm`C2 comes into play to further lower thecrimpin'g heads 'bei'- tween the positions of Fig. 18 and iig. 19. This final lowering movement of the heads bends the box carried loops downwardly about the cover carried loops to tightly interlock them and fasten the ,cover in closed condition. As Ypreviously brought out, the crimping heads swing outwardly during their final lowering movement to follow the outward shifting of the box and thus assure complete interlocking of the loops.

After the box has been shifted to its outer position, pressure member l1 returns inwardly 'and as the cam shaft completes its single revolution the clutch is automatically disengaged to leave only the rollers 29 operating. Removal of roller 1l from notch 12 in disk 18 by the automatic disengagement of the clutch releases the disk for rotation to thus permit swinging movement of feelers 60 and 6| in a direction passing the fastened box onto the discharge conveyor I4 and admitting the next successive box into the machine from entrance conveyor I3. The ejection of the rst box from the machine is initiated by ejecting device l1l, which as previously described is conditioned by the inward shifting movement of the outer pressure plate.

Fig. 23 shows a variational form of cover closing guide 216, corresponding essentially to the guide 16 described above but having the advantage of oifering no frictional resistance to the movement of boxes through the machine. Guide straightening and interlocking operations. The

chain may be driven by motor M through any .suitable drive connection including typically a drive chain 282. The speed at which guide chain 213 is driven should of course correspond to the rate at which a box is advanced into the machine by the entrance of one of the two powered rollers 29.

' We claim:

l. A wire-bound box lidding machine comprising a support onto which is movable a box having an upwardly opened hinged cover and having a exible vertical wall, the cover and box edges carrying interlockable wire loops, guide means engageable by the cover during movement of the box onto the support and positioned to displace the cover downwardly toward .the box and retain it in a lowered but partly open position, a movable member engageable with said flexible wall to resist bulging thereof while the cover is retained by said guide means, means for actuating said member to engage the box wall after movement of the box onto the support and following said downward displacement of the cover but while the cover remains partly open. and means for thereafter interlocking said loops and fully closing the cover while said member engages and resists bulging of said flexible wall.

2. A wire-bound box lidding machine comprising a support onto which is 4movable a box having an upwardly opened hinged cover and having a flexible vertically extending wall, the cover and box edges carrying interlockable wire loops, guide means engageable by the cover as the box moves onto the support and positioned to displace the .cover as a result of suchmovement downwardly toward the box and retain it in a lowered but partly open position, a member extending transversely of the path of movement of the box onto the support and engageable with said flexible wall to resist bulging thereof while the cover is retained by said guide means, means mounting said member for movement relative to the support into and out of said path and engagement withthe box wall, means for actuating said member to engage the box wall after movement of the box onto the support and following said downward displacement of the cover but while the cover remains partly open, and means for thereafter interlocking said loops and fully closing the cover while said member engages and resists bulging of said flexible wall.

3. A wire-bound box lidding machine comprising a support onto which is movable a box having an upwardly opened hinged cover and having four flexible vertical walls, the cover and box edges carrying interlockable wire loops, guide means engageable by the cover during movement of the box onto the support and positioned to displace the cover downwardly toward the box and retain it in a lowered but partly open position, relatively movable members engageable with. said flexible walls to resist bulging thereof while the cover is retained by said guide means, means for producing relative movement of said members to engage the box walls after movement of the box onto the support and following said downward displacement of the cover but while the cover remains partly open, and means for thereafter interlocking said loops and fully closing the cover while said member engages and resists'bulging of said flexible Wall.

4. A box lidding machine comprising a sta.- tionary frame, means carried by the frame for supporting a box having a cover carrying a ilexible 4projection at one edge adapted to be interlocked with a second projection on an adjacent edge of the box, means for shifting the box relative to the frame, mechanism operable to engage and interlock said projections during the shifting movement of the box, and means for operating said projection interlocking mechanism in timed relation with said box shifting means.

5. A box lidding machine comprising a stationary frame, means carried by the frame for supporting a box having a cover carrying a flexible projection at one edge adapted to be interlocked with a second projection on an adjacent edge of the box, means for shifting the box relative to the frame and transversely of said edges, and a crimping head positioned in the path of one of said projections for engagement thereby during said shifting movement of the box to bend the projection in an interlocking direction.

6. A box lidding machine comprising a frame, means carried by the frame for holding a box having a cover carrying a flexible projection at one edge adapted to be interlocked with a second flexible projection on an adjacent edge of ythe box, one of said projections extending upwardly, a crimping head overlying the cover near Vsaid edge and movable downwardly thereagainst to close the cover against the box and interengage said projections, and means operable in timed relation with the cover closing movement of said head to horizontally shift the box while acume? or the boxand bend the" projection in an interlocking direction.

7. A box lidding machinecomprising a sta-- `tionary frame, means carried by the frame for holding a box having-an upwardly opened cover carrying an outwardlyr extending wire loop at one edge adapted to be interlocked with a seoond wire loop projecting upwardly from an adjacent edge of the box, a vertically `movable crimping head overlying said edge of the cover, means for moving said headA downwardly against the cover to closeit against the box 'and interengage said loops, means for'horizontally shifting the box transversely of and away from said edges while the crimping head is against the closed cover, said head'when against the cover being 4positioned in the path of 'said upwardly projecting box carried loop to be engaged there- -by during the shifting movement of the box and bend it about the cover carried loop and outwardly away from the box, and means then operable to move said head downwardly at the side of the'box to Vbend kthe vbox carried loop downwardly thereagainst;

8. A box lidding machine comprising a stab cent edge of the box, means for shifting the box relative tothe frame, a movable crimping member, and means operating in timed relation with said shifting meansY to move said member downwardly at the side of the box during said shifting movement to deform and interlock said projections.

' '9. A box lidding machine comprising a stationary frame, means carried by the frame for holding a box having anupwardly opened cover Ycarrying an outwardly extending wire loop at i;

one-edge adapted to be interloclredwith a second wireloop projecting upwardly Vfrom an adjacent vedge of the box, a movable crimping head overlying 4said edge of the cover, means for horizontallyvshifting the Aboxtransversely of and away lrom'the 'locationof said Yedgesymeans for moving saidmrimping head rst` downwardly and then lsimultaneously downwardly and in thei'hori'- zontai direction `of `box movement, and means 'for actuating said head moving means and said box shifting 'means in timed Vrelation to Aiirst move the head downwardly to close the box cover Aand interengagesaid loops, then shift the box so that the head is engaged by said upwardly extending box `carried loop to bend the loop outi wardly, and then move the head simultaneously downwardly and horizontally 'as theV shifting movement of the box continues to'bend said box carried loop downwardly against the side of the box.

l0.,A box lidding machine comprising a support onto which may be moved a box having an upwardly opened cover carrying at one edge a flexible projection interlockable with a lsecond projection on an adjacent box edge, said pro- 'jections being interengageable by the final closing movement of said cover, means for moving the cover relative to the *box between a nearly .closed condition in which said projections are Vproximately positioned butnot interengaged and closed condition to interengage the projections, a straightening means positioned near the location of said box edge and Aforming a guideway `.to receive and engagea side of the cover-carried projection while thecover is in'sa'id 'iirst nearly closed condition to aline the cover carried projection for rinterengagement with the box carriedprojection, anda support carrying said member at the side Vof the box adjacent the projection-carried edge of the cover.

l1. 'A box lidding machine comprising a support onto which may-be moved a box having an upwardly opened cover carrying a exible projection at one edge interlockable with a second projection on'an adjacent edge of the box, means iordisplacing said'cover relative to the box in a closing direction,V projection alining means inoludingspaced 'guides engageable with the sides of the cover carried projection after relative closing movement of the box and cover by said last mentioned means to aline the projection for interengagement With'the box carried projection, and a movable support carrying said member at the'side'of thejbo'x adjacent the projectioncarrying edge of the cover.

l2. 'A boxliddingV machine comprising a support for holding a box having an upwardly opened covercarrying atone edge a ilexible loop projection interlookable with a second loop projee-tion carried by an adjacent edge of the box. means for `displacing said cover relative to the box to a position near itsclosed condition, and upper and lower projection alining members positioned one above'the other in direct proximity .to said -boxedgeandoperable while the cover is 'insaid downwardly displaced condition to engageand `aline 4both the box and cover carried projections for interengagement said members being 'engageable respectively with the covercarried and box-carried projections and being relatively positionedto` laterally deiiec't and aline the projections.

135A box llidding machine comprising a support onto which may be moved a box having an upwardly opened kcover carrying at one edge a exibleiloop projection interlockable with a secondV loop projection on an adjacent box edge, said projections being 'interengageable by the nal closing'movement ofsaid cover, means for mov- 4i'ngthe cover and 'box relatively between a nearly closed cover condition inwhich said projections are proximately positioned but not interengaged and closed condition to interengage the projections, -upper and lower guides engageable respectively with the cover-carried and box-carried projections as theoover is closed toward the box and `being relatively positioned to deflect ythe projections laterally into alinement as they are interengaged, and 'a-common 'support for the guides at the 'side ofthe box.

lll. A boxlidding machine comprising a support onto which may be :moved a box having an upwardly opened cover carrying at one :edge a e'xible loop projection interlockable with a second projection-'on an adjaoent'box edge, said projections being'interengageable by the final closing movement Aof said cover, means for moving the cover downwardly toward its closed condition, and a pair of'spaced elements `forming a guideway engageable with a side'of the cover carried loop as it is lclosed by said last mentioned means to position said cover loop for proper interengagement with the -box loop.

i151 ,A box lidding machine comprising a sup- :port for holding a boxlhaving a cover carrying at one edge a flexibleprojectioninterlockable with a projectionon an adjaoentbox edge, alining mechanism adjacent .which said box and cover Vedges are received 'and .operable to engage and aline 'the projections'forinterengagement mech- I l I 17 anism operable lto shift the box transversely of said edges and away from said alining mechanism, and means for actuating said box shifting means to move the box away from said alining mechanism after the alining operation.

16. A box lidding machine comprising a support for holding a box having a cover carrying at one edge a -wire loop interlockable with a second loop on an adjacent box edge to fasten the cover closed, means for alining said box and cover carried loops for movement into interengaging relation, means for deforming and interlocking said loops, and mechanism operating to sequentially actuate said loop alining and interlocking means in predetermined timed relation.

17. A box lidding machine comprising a support for holding a box having a cover carrying at one edge a flexible projection interlockable with a projection on an adjacent box edge, alining mechanism adjacent which said box and cover edges are received and operable to engage and aline the projections for interengagement, means for shifting the box transversely of said edges and away from said alining mechanism after the alining operation, and means operable to deform and interlock said loops during said shifting movement of the box to fasten the cover closed.

18. A box lidding machine comprising a support onto which may be moved a box having an upwardly opened cover carrying a flexible projection at one edge interlockable with a second projection on an adjacent box edge, a movable crimping head overlying said edge of the box,

means for moving the head downwardly to first move the cover to a nearly closed condition in which the projections are proximately positioned but not engaged and then further downwardly to close the cover and crimp the projections into interlocked relation, alining mechanism operable to engage and aline said projections, and means for actuating said alining mechanism to engage and aline said projections while the cover is in said nearly closed condition.

19. A box lidding machine comprising a movable support onto which is movable along a given path a box having a cover carrying a flexible projection interlockable with a second projection on an adjacent edge of the box, means for shifting said support transversely of said box path to move the box toward and away from a projection interengaging position, movable members operable 'to interengage said projections, and mechanism operable to actuate the members to so interengage the projections when the box is in said position.

20. A box lidding machine including a support onto which may be moved a box having a cover carrying a ilexible projection interlockable with a second projection on an adjacent edge of i the box, a pair of movable members extending along a pair of opposite sides of said support and engageable with the opposite walls of a box supported thereon to resist their bulging, means for actuating one of said members to shift the box in a first horizontal direction and into a projection interengaging position, and means for actuating the other of said members to shift the box in the opposite direction and out of said position.

21. A box lidding machine comprising a support onto which may be moved along a given path a box having a cover carrying a flexible projection interlockable with a second projection on an adjacent edge of the box, means for shifting a. box in opposite directions transversely of said path into and out of a projection interengaging position, means for ejecting a box along said path and from said support after a projection interlocking operation, and means for actuating said ejecting means in timed relation to said box shifting means.

22. A box lidding machine comprising a support for a box having a hinged cover carrying a series of first ilexible wire loop projections at one edge interlockable with a corresponding series of second iiexible wire loop projections on an adjacent edge of the box, means for bringing the box and cover from open to closed condition, upper and lower series of projection alining means positioned at the side of said box edge and engageable respectively with said rst and second projections as the cover closes toward the box to retain the projections in alinement as they are engaged, and means positioned directly above said projection alining means and operable to interlock the projections.

23. A box lidding machine comprising a support for a box having a hinged cover carrying a series of rst exible wire loop projections at one edge interlockable with a corresponding series of second exible wire loop projections on an adjacent edge of the box, means for bringing the box and cover from open to closed condition, upper and lower series of projection alining means positioned at the side of said box edge and engageable respectively with said rst and second projections as the cover closes toward the box to retain the projections in alinement as they are engaged, means positioned directly above said projection alining means, and operable to interlock the projections and means mounting said alining means for movement relative to the box and said alining means.

24. A Ibox lidding machine comprising a support onto which may be moved a box having an upwardly opened cover carrying at oneV edge a ilexible loop projection interlockable with a second projection on an adjacent box edge, said projections being interengageable by the final closing movement of said cover, means for moving the cover downwardly toward its closed condition, a pair of spaced elements forming a guideway engageable with a side of the cover carried loop as it is closed by said last mentioned means to position said cover loop for proper interengagement with the box loop, means directly below said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,448,790 Chandler Mar. 20, 1923 1,976,033 Platt Oct. 9, 1934 2,063,124 Rosenmund Dec. 8, 1936 2,100,282 Keech Nov. 23, 1937 2,517,710

Platt et al Aug. 8, 1950 

